Police make arrest in Gardner Shell robbery

GARDNER — A Gardner man charged in the armed robbery Monday of a gasoline station on Oak Street was held on $25,000 bail after his arraignment Wednesday in Gardner District Court.

Brandon Cormier, 25, of 213 Ash St. was arraigned on charges of armed robbery while masked and larceny of a motor vehicle. He was held in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $250,000 with surety.

Mr. Cormier was charged with robbing the Oak Street Shell station and convenience store and with a subsequent pickup truck theft. He was arrested Tuesday in Concord on warrants unrelated to the case.

Gardner police Lt. John A Bernard said Mr. Cormier held up the gas station just before 11 p.m. Monday with what the clerk thought was a handgun, but later turned out to be a metal hose nozzle that looked like a handgun. It is alleged he then fled with about $200 in cash, stealing a truck on Chelsea Street a short time later.

The truck was recovered undamaged in Leominster at the same time police learned Mr. Cormier was headed to Concord.

Mr. Cormier told police he went to Leominster to buy drugs. He said he saw police in Leominster near the stolen vehicle when he looked out a window from the building where he was using drugs. He then headed to Concord with the help of friends who were hoping to get him treatment at Emerson Hospital, he said. Before he could seek treatment at the hospital, he was arrested.

Mr. Cormier was also arraigned Wednesday on charges of larceny over $250, larceny under $250 and wanton destruction of property. He was charged after police were told by his father he believes his son has a drug problem and was stealing money from him and from his grandmother. The destruction of property charge stems from allegations that Mr. Cormier broke into his grandmother's safe.

Along with the new charges, Mr. Cormier faces charges in two other cases. He is also being held on a possible parole violation. He was on probation for convictions in a Winchendon case in which he pleaded guilty to breaking and entering for a misdemeanor and larceny under $250.